Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Have you ever thought about how many "first patients" you have had in your career? I certainly remember my very first patient in nursing school for a variety of reasons, but that's a story for another day. I don't think I really ever thought about categorizing all of the other "firsts" into one bigger category however. The first baby I saw being born, the first patient who coded, the first one who died, the first time I truly saved a patient's life, and then the first one who truly practically pulled my heart strings out. WOW! Yes, I've had a great career.
Today I picked up a book sent to me for review and I couldn't put it down. The Joy of Nursing Reclaiming Our Nobility by Juliana Adams, BSN, MSN, MA, is one of the most compelling books about a nurse's long career that I have read in a long time. She validates the reasons I wanted to become a nurse as she tells her stories and finds her concept of nobility in nursing.

It's no surprise the book was a finalist for the 2016 USA Best Book Award. It's a must read for anyone considering a career in nursing. Adams doesn't mince words as she shares stories of her real world challenges and triumphs in the nursing profession. "To be a nurse you have to be tough, and you have to be gentle." She tells it like it is, and also leads the reader to see the silver lining and understand the calling to be a nurse and to truly make a difference in lives everyday.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

I recently received notice that TheNursingSiteBlog was chosen as one of the Top 10 Blogs for Nurses in 2016 by the National CPR Association. I am always humbled to be honored and to be listed in such great company. Please check out the other 9 blogs in this list. They are all terrific! Thank you National CPR Association.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Healthcare is on the front burner in American politics. The new regime has promised to overturn the ACA (Affordable Care Act) aka "Obamacare," something that has been tried many times since it became law and has failed. This time it might not. And they have assured us they intend to act swiftly. We need to act now!!

What are the consequences?
It is TERRIFYING to think that the action may be taken without a thought or care as to what to do after the fact. Suddenly literally Millions of Americans could find themselves without ANY health insurance and NO options.

For years the Republican party has shouted they have a better plan and idea, but never once have they brought forth any ideas for change except to dump it all together despite multiple invitations from President Obama. NOW is the time to speak up and make a better plan.

The ACA is not perfect
It was never a clean bill. For one thing it is cluttered with so many extraneous attachments that have nothing to do with healthcare whatsoever. The bill is over 900 pages and really only about 100 pages actually pertain to the ACA.

It was flawed bill from the beginning particularly when no restraints were placed on insurance companies to continue to gouge employers, individuals, and pay providers intentionally minute payments. The business of health insurance was basically untouched. The CEOs still receive enormous salaries and bonuses and the insurance companies have done their best to build a maze to confuse and frustrate!!! There were better options, but they were defeated.

On a personal note: my ACA policy's rates continue to rise exponentially every
year. BUT despite that, the alternative would absolutely bankrupt me if
I had to once again pay out of pocket just for medications for my
family member. I'm STILL paying the credit card bills from several years
of no insurance due to the preexisting conditions that the ACA
eliminated.

Another complication stems from basing premiums on the number of insured in a particular plan. There are simply too many plans and not enough people in each one to keep the costs down!! The process must be simplified without sacrificing options. The healthy don't need to have the same plan as someone with multiple conditions and medications, but neither needs to be penalized. It can be done. There just needs to be care and consideration of consequences and an effort to work together for the best for all Americans!!

Healthcare is NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE!!
It should not be treated as an "Us vs Them" matter. We have to get real about this. Bullying has NO place! There are so many new illnesses and viruses and challenges facing us every year in addition to the fact that we have an aging population with a whole different set of challenges. We are ALL affected equally. And no one is immune.

Despite it's problems, the ACA has afforded millions more Americans with some form of healthcare and saved so very many from needless
suffering and death with medications and treatments they otherwise had no access to or means to afford. More children than ever before have access to wellness and preventative care to set them on the right foot towards long, healthy lives.

We are not a 3rd world country! We need to fight to remain a world leader and to retain respect especially in the global economy and healthcare realms. We can't do that if we don't take care of our own!!

Healthcare Professionals Need to Unite and Educate
As healthcare professionals we need to stand together and fight for a better plan for all Americans; not to eliminate it all together. We need to be bold enough to demand insurance companies provide affordable options and assistance to everyone and reasonable payments to providers.

Most importantly, we need to contact our legislators (most of whom remain from the previous term) and make them aware of the measure of crisis they can create if the abolish the ACA with wild abandonment and don't make provisions. Better yet, work together as a TEAM and fix the ACA. We cannot return to having more than half of our population without healthcare. It's simple Email or Call your legislators today!

PREVENTION Lowers Risks and Costs
As nurses we are charged with the most important role of patient education. When 50% of the population doesn't understand enough about their own health status, needs, prevention and care we have to step up to the plate and educate them.

By improving the process of PREVENTION and lowering the RISKS, we help to lower the overall costs. If we deny Americans access again, the RISKS will rise again and only drive costs higher and higher. NONE of us can afford that!!!

Monday, October 31, 2016

The most practical approach to adopt when you have decided to become a nurse is to become a CNA or a Certified Nursing Assistant as a first step. From there you may decide you love being a CNA, or decide to follow your plan to become a practical or registered nurse. To become a CNA, you have to pass the CNA training course and then a state CNA exam.

Just like in any other course of study, you have to do really well in it to be eligible to take the state CNA exam. And you have to do well on the exam to become certified to practice as a CNA. Once you are done with your course and exam, and you are extremely motivated, no one can stop you from becoming a excellent Certified Nursing Assistant.

To become a CNA, you should be well prepared. Here are some awesome guidelines which can lead you down the path to become the best CNA.

1. Get Your Horses Ready from High School
While getting your horses ready is just an expression, you should start preparing yourself for becoming a CNA while in high school or even before. You should opt for those subjects which revolve around health care and science. You have to be able to work with math minimally at a 7th grade level (which includes adding, subtracting, multiplication and some division.) You also have to prove your competency to read and write English, and the better you are at these, the easier it will be to compete in school and in the job arena.

Taking extra courses related to the health field can be a big advantage because you will get to know about a lot of health care issues from an early age. This can also help you in preparing for your CNA exam. As you become familiar with the various anatomical functions of a human body, this will help you provide the best care for your patients suffering from different diseases.

2. Get Your Diploma or GED
The basic requirement for CNA training is to be a high school graduate. So, if you are still in school and aspiring to serve people by becoming a CNA, you should keep working hard to get your high school diploma. However, if for some reason you are not able to get your diploma, then you should obtain a GED to qualify for becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant .

3. Enroll in a CNA Training Certification Program
Different types of CNA training programs are offered nationwide. Some have a short duration, while the others have a considerably longer one. And the prices for tuition varies greatly as well. The type of a job you will get depends entirely upon the training program you undergo, so do your research.

Every CNA training program requires 75 hours of clinical and classroom training. Keep it in mind that you will have to participate in clinical hours as well as classroom hours and pass the CNA exam. Some programs will arrange and schedule the practical hours for you, and some require you find your own source. There is no need to take your training in a rush. This training is really important as it will teach you all the requirements to become a good CNA. Take your time and learn as much as you can.

4. Take Your CNA Exam
The CNA exam is taken at the state level. Every training program clearly tells you where and when you can take your exam. The state board of nursing is the main body behind this decision. However, understand that your exam date will not necessarily fall right after the day when your finish your training. Sometimes, aspiring CNAs have to wait for a few weeks after completing their training to take the exam. So be sure to keep studying.

This exam basically determines how much you have learned during your training program. The written part of the exam mostly consists of multiple choice questions to test your level of understanding through some conceptual questions. There is also a practical part to the test in which you have to demonstrate what you have learned during all that time spent in the clinical part. You will be assigned to take care of a patient in front of the examiner and demonstrate practically what you have learned to show that you can practice safely as a CNA.

5. Get Your Certification and Apply for a Job
Once you are done with your exams, you will apply for and receive your certificate in the mail and then be able to start applying for jobs. Remember to keep up with your continuing education hours to renew your certification per your state’s requirement approximately every one to two years.

Muhammad Ahmad is a certified nursing assistant specialist advisor who has helped many students as well nurses guiding them the best path to become a certified nursing assistant. His current project cnacareersmart.com includes various articles and affiliated videos.(Photo credits: Shutterstock)

Friday, October 28, 2016

Wow it's been awhile hasn't it? Well life happens and things turn on a dime. And slowly you pick yourself up and move forward again. My MIL is now living with us as we continue with renovations to my home and deal with the clutter and dirt! Oh such fun!!!! I think I need to work just to feel normal and get some relief!

Meanwhile, I received a complimentary sample of Fresh Legs TM compression socks a few weeks ago just before life got totally crazy. Compression socks are being touted as miracles for nurses and I understand exactly why that is. They do make your legs feel better and give you the ability to be on your feet for hours with far less pain and discomfort.

My job is primarily a desk job, but since they work well for traveling and sitting for long hours, they do help keep my ankles and legs from swelling.

Fresh Legs TM offer a large variety of colors and styles including compression sleeves for legs and a comfort sock as well. They have both contemporary and classic designs for men and women, and the socks are very well made. The wide seamless toe box is great!

I've tried some other brands that unraveled after the first washing, but these hold up quite well. Some other brands have become way too tight to wear after a first washing, but these didn't do that either. Give them a look.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

I'm always humbled and honored to listed in such good company especially when it comes from peers. Check out all of these books. They are all terrific (and also make great gifts for new grads.)

The Everything New Nurse Book is at #9 on the Amazon Best Seller's in Nursing Issues, Trends and Roles list this week. There is also a second edition, and a 2014 updated version titled as The New Nurse Handbook, also available on Amazon.com.

Sunday, September 11, 2016

It started out just like any other day. Then in an instant, everything changed on a dime! It was surreal, it was unbelievable, it was sad beyond comprehension. And the world stood still in disbelief. We will all remember where we were and how we heard the news. And we will Never Forget!

If you've not been to the site, I highly suggest it. It's a life-altering moment. I had visited the World Trade Center many years before. I hope someday to be able to visit the memorial, but I've stood at Ground Zero and seen the devastation.

The world came together to comfort one another and to work towards peace fro quite awhile afterwards. Let us always remember that as well especially in these days of turmoil.We proved we can all get along. Let's don't forget that either!

Friday, September 2, 2016

We are honored and grateful to be listed along with all these fabulous resources for nurses and those who aspire to become nurses. They also listed TheNursingSite.com! Thanks for the double recognition!

Please take the time to check out this site and to look around at all the great sites in this list.

Friday, August 5, 2016

Wound care is a rapidly growing need in the nursing community. As the population ages, more focus is on older people who are more sedentary and often chair or bed bound making them more vulnerable to rapidly deteriorating pressure wounds and deep tissue injuries. These can become life threatening in a very short time if not treated appropriately.

Hospitals, nursing homes, and home health and hospice agencies often rely upon wound care specialists to lead the charge in prevention and treatment education of other staff. As we are discovering quickly there is a tremendous shortage of specialized nurses with wound care education and experience. This is a great way to expand your resume and expertise for your nursing career.

The College of Long Term Care offers 2 dates for wound care certification for RNs, LV/PNs, nursing home personnel and other health care professionals. See announcement below:

2016 DATES FOR WOUND CARE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

(Continuing Education Credit & Certification Offered In This Growing Area of Care)

“The growing problem of pressure wounds is especially challenging for nursing homes that have had to send their residents to specialty clinics and hospitals for treatment,” said Bardia Anvar, M.D., founder of Skilled Wound Care and the College of Long Term Care. “This is especially costly when you factor in ambulance transportation, lifting and moving patients in delicate health, admittance to the hospital and surgical care. Also, the simple act of transporting patients can lead to the onset of additional pressure wounds. By teaching staff how to prevent such wounds and identify them at the earliest stages, we can reverse these troubling statistics.”

The courses sponsored by the College of Long Term Care will reveal these basic facts about caring for wounds:

Avoid excess baths (should only bathe for 3-5 minutes 2-3 times per week)

Keep water temperature lukewarm – not hot

Add bath oil

Do not use most soap products as they contain detergent (Dove is the exception)

Do not use washcloths

Pat dry

Apply moisturizer immediately after bathing and reapply 4 times each day

Monday, July 18, 2016

Several years ago I was honored to make the acquaintance of Pete Dowan on Facebook. He hail's from Canada and he's a musician who has written many warm and heartfelt songs often based on his life experiences.

Pete has spent a considerable portion of his life in the hospital and under the care and supervision of doctors and nurses. He developed a strong affection and respect for nurses and one of his songs is a tribute to The Ladies in White.

Pete has received many requests for the song to become a RINGTONE, and today he notified me that this has come to fruition. So far it's ONLY available for Apple "iProducts" such as iPhone, iPad. You can get your ringtone here from the iTunes store. (NOTE: You MUST access this link directly from your iPhone or iPad to be able to access the ringtone. We in the U.S. will have to be patient. It should be available soon. Canadians can enjoy it now. UPDATE : it's available NOW. I bought mine today 6/19) Enjoy!

Thursday, July 14, 2016

When an accolade comes from a peer it's so very special. Again The Nursing Site Blog has been honored by Brian Clark, RN, BSN, MSNA, CRNA, Program Director at United Medical Education
as one of the "Top 5 Nursing Blogs That Deserve a Visit In 2016." Proud to be among such great company!!! Thanks Brian!!

Please be sure to return the favor and check out this article and the website. There is a lot of very good information for nurses and nursing students there. It should be one of your mainstays for nursing information.

Friday, June 24, 2016

I have read a couple of great books by nurses recently and have to share them with you. The first is The Patient's Resource and Almanac of Primary Care Medicine by Agnes Oblas, ANP-C. In her private practice in AZ, Agnes "does not just treat the medical symptom that her patients present to her. She works together with her patients to help resolve issues impacting the problems and to ultimately help find ways to alter risks for future illnesses."

That is a huge challenge for any practitioner, and this book shows the effort she puts forth to provide her patients with the tools to do just that. In plain English and with some terrific illustrations, Agnes describes common illnesses, medications and other treatments, and bodily functions for the lay person to easily understand. Just a few of the topics include earwax, bunions, COPD, Tuberculosis, Antioxidants, Hypertension, Headaches and Glycemic Index. She also talks about eggs, peanut butter, sugar and butter and some of the myths and truths about how they affect the health status. ANd she shares some of the famous people who have had conditions such as TB.

This book also has a chapter for the Saavy Healthcare Consumer with tips to make the most of your visit with your practitioner. It provides valuable teaching tools for the nurse as well as down to earth information for the consumer with great points to discuss with their practitioner.

Patient education is so important to preventing chronic disease and complications as well as improving the health status and to containing the skyrocketing costs of health care. Thanks Agnes for this fantastic patient teaching tool.

The second book is from well-known nurse writer/blogger, Donna Wilk Cardillo. This time she shares her own life struggles and how even though things were falling apart at various points in her life, she recognized they were actually Falling Together.

This book is well written and from the heart. It's dark, it's heartbreaking, it's funny, it's uplifting all in one easy-to-read examination of the heart and soul. It will inspire the reader to find their way no matter how lost through nurturing and self-awareness.

Learning to use our darkest moments to motivate and fuel a rebuilding is one of the greatest gifts this books offers. Finding ways to make things better and to move forward are so important to maintaining a healthy body and soul. Donna shares her ups and downs and helps us to examine our own journey to find balance, become happier, more creative and to enjoy our lives. Thanks Donna for this great book!

Thursday, June 23, 2016

As many of you probably don't know, my mother passed away in late April after 3 weeks on hospice. I finally got Kaiser to make the referral! But that's a story for another day.

Mom lived with us during her last 3 years of life and it was often a struggle for all of us. But in those last few hours I was afforded the opportunity to share with her why I had become a nurse. She never understood why I wouldn't want to be a doctor instead. Her (much older) cousin had indeed been one of the first women doctors in the U.S. and my mother had considered medicine herself, but after a social life ended her first stint at college with very poor grades, she returned and focused on journalism. It was a decision I think she often regretted. I was always surprised that she didn't pursue nursing. It wouldn't have been looked on with disapproval from family.

I tried so many times over the years to explain my reasons to her and she acknowledged them, but always with a hint that someday I would change my mind. In those last hours when I sat at her bedside and the only person talking was me, I had the chance to show her why.

She had had a series of TIAs and strokes and was now unable to talk and required total care. Her body was shutting down. Her arthritis had riddled her body with awkward stiffness and pain. Her heart had caused her multiple syncopal episodes that left her fatigued and eventually her existence was bed to chair.

In the final days the haldol finally eased the terminal agitation and hallucinations. She was no longer frantically trying to climb out of bed. Nor was she ordering me to stand in the bathroom and see why the house was flooding and the house was going to break apart! I tried to play along, but that only made her more adamant and angry! I tried so hard not to laugh because she was soooo confused and angry. It was just silly. I had talked so many families down from this as their loved ones transitioned. These would be the longest and perhaps most challenging hours of our lives; and yet the shortest!

It finally made sense that the oxygen concentrator bubbles sounded like water slowly flowing around her. The previous concentrator had been so noisy you couldn't hear the gentle sound of the water bubbling. Reluctantly, with her "You're always right," attitude she calmed down. But I knew she was bracing herself for the flood, the house to crack and the "I told you so" moment to arrive!!

That final stroke left her unable to move any extremity but her hands were no longer stiff. They were soft and relaxed. She required morphine and haldol to ease her transition. That last night she stared at me with her beautiful bright blue eyes and I knew she wanted to know what was happening to her and why?

I was moistening her lips and feeding her a very few ice chips just to ease the dryness in her mouth. (She chewed the toothettes and spit them!!!) I applied some Vaseline lip ointment that she hated, but I knew it worked on her. I rubbed her legs because they hurt despite all the pain meds --just tired of being in bed. I starred back into her eyes and told her it would be OK now. Her body was shutting down after 3 strokes and a possible MI, but we would do everything possible to keep her comfortable! I would see to that!!! That had been her end-of-life wish.

And then I held her hand and looked at her and said, "you know Mom THIS is why I became a nurse! Because nurses sit and hold your hand and tell you the truth. They tell you it's OK to go now. They wipe your eyes, and moisten your lips and pad your sunken cheeks from the oxygen tubing. They make sure you get your medication to keep you comfortable. Doctors don't have the time nor the artful skill set to just be with patients. That's why I did NOT want to be a doctor. I only wanted to be a NURSE!!!"

She stared harder like she was trying to say something. Her face softened and she smiled ever so slightly and closed her eyes. I think she finally knew what I meant and it was finally OK with her. And now she knew what was happening to her. A few hours later she was gone.

Friday, May 20, 2016

Thank you to everyone who entered our Nurses Week GiveAway contests. We had an overwhelming response and we have a lot of winners to announce. I also want to once again say a BIG THANK YOU all of our wonderful sponsors for their generous donations to make this a successful celebration of the nursing profession.

Please be sure to check out all of their websites and follow their social media to show your thanks and support to them as well.

Remember the American Nurses Association 2016 Theme for Nurses Week is Culture of Safety, It Starts with YOU. Always do your part to uphold the safety of you, your staff and your patients. Learn more at the ANA website.

I hope everyone had a great Nurses Week! Nurses are always overworked and underpaid and token thank yous can easily be tossed aside. But even the smallest of tokens should be respected. Employers realistically cannot afford to provide huge gifts and some don't even bother to recognize Nurses Week at all so if you received even just a thank you from your employer, please be grateful. Perhaps next year you'll get involved in the process to help your employer present a better recognition. Note too that some people are just NOT party planners and have no clue how to put on a celebration. So those of you who are so talented in this aspect, please step forward. It isn't always that they want to neglect the celebration, they just have no clue.

So without further ado here are the randomly picked out of the hat names of 2016 Nurses week GiveAway Winners from The Nursing Site Blog:

I have tried to contact each winner through the links in their comments or tweets. If your name is here and you didn't get notification, please contact me ASAP. Thanks again to all the entrants and to the sponsors who generously donated these GiveAways.

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Nurses Week comes to a close today, May 12, as we celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale and International Nurses Day.

Again this year we are pleased to have a generous donation of a $50 E card from Uniform Advantage for our final Nurses Week Give Away. Follow the Rules to enter to win this E card for UA merchandise.

"Uniform Advantage is a premier supplier of medical apparel and accessories. We strive to provide the best selection of scrubs and nursing uniforms with the highest quality products by listening to what you, the medical professional, need and desire in a uniform.

This year, we have partnered with Miss Colorado, Kelley Johnson, RN, to help recognize nurses for the invaluable work they do. Kelley's caring heart, passion for philanthropic work, and love for nursing aligned so perfectly with our values here at UA that we couldn’t wait to create a partnership! Kelley is excited to be part of our Nurse’s Week Campaign."

Purchase your own#nursesunite T shirt. It's comfy and fun and shows your support for our profession in a campaign that grew out of criticism of the ignorance about nurses and the profession from ABC's The View cast members after the Miss America Pageant in which Miss Colorado,

Kelley Johnson, RN spoke about her experiences as a nurse in the talent portion. What was a nasty experience sprung a silver lining of nurses uniting and working together and showing respect and support for each other. Happy Nurses Week!!!

#uniformadvantage #adayinscrubs #nursesunite

And get 20% Off from Uniform Advantage on select scrubs until MIDNIGHT (PST) today 5/12/16.

Thanks again to all of our supporters for their generous donations and I hope you have all had a great Nurses Week celebrating the difference you each make in someone's life everyday!

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Nanotex has generously donated 2 sets of women's scrubs to our list of Nurses week GiveAways. Follow the rules to enter to win one of these sets .

A bit about the new scrubs: Nanotex®, a leading fabric innovator providing nanotechnology-based textile enhancements to the apparel, home and commercial/residential interiors markets, in conjunction with Strategic Partners, Inc. (SPI), the leader in the design and manufacturing of medical apparel, lab wear, footwear and accessories, has a line of scrubs and lab coats called featuring Certainty fabric technology – providing long-lasting freshness against odor-causing and fabric-degrading bacteria on the fabric – and Certainty Plus, which enhances Certainty with Nanotex® Resists Spills, a fluid barrier that causes fluids to bead up and roll off the apparel.

Nanotex utilizes nanotechnology by which molecules permanently attach to fibers without clogging the fabric weave or compromising the look, feel or comfort of the fabric.

The combined technologies are available in durable, breathable, soft, comfortable and fashionable Code Happy® scrubs, and Cherokee®, Dickies® and Code Happy lab coats.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Maevn Uniforms has generously donated our Nurses Week GiveAway for today, May10. They will give one EON top and one EON bottom with an MSRP of over $50 to one U.S. based winner (male or female). Follow these rules to enter to win.

The EON Collection is the first and only scrub separates and jacket line to be made with a blend of COOLMAX Everyday Fabric. COOLMAX Everyday Fabric is designed to keep professionals cool and dry for everyday comfort and performance. Fabric benefits include easy-care, good air permeability, moisture management and wicking performance, fabric stability, and excellent washfast and colorfast performance.

Styles within the new EON Collection offer a sleek, professional look while providing optimal comfort with lightweight mesh, wrinkle-resistant material, and minimal shrinkage.

About Maevn Uniforms
Maevn Uniforms offers men and women in the medical field high-quality, fashionable apparel at competitive prices. The brand's collections are currently available nationwide at 500 specialty stores that carry medical scrubs and accessories. For more information, please visit: www.maevnuniforms.com

Monday, May 9, 2016

It's May 9 and we have 2 #GiveAways for Nurses Week today.Thank you so much for these and all of the other great sponsors this year!!

#GiveAway #1Sugarwish sent me a sugarwish a few weeks ago. I got to chose 4 different candies for my box (below) and I enjoyed each piece. They are donating a Sugarwish to one of our readers to honor nurses.

Please follow the rulesand post your comment or Retweet. HINT: The retweeters are way ahead in the count. It's easy to do!!

In their own words: Sugarwish gets it right by bringing "The Candy Store" to the recipient, and allowing them to choose what they want whether its Swedish Fish, Carmel Creams, or Reese’s Pieces!

A Sugarwish gift starts as an eCard... that leads to a "virtual candy store" where the recipient get to pick their favorites. Their selections are packaged in a beautiful blue box, tied with a red ribbon and shipped right to their door, hospital floor or office. Sweet happiness. Delivered!

It couldn’t be easier to acknowledge their tireless efforts that make all the difference. Just a few of the benefits of sending a Sugarwish:

The receiver picks!

It can arrive instantly (you choose if you want the eCard delivered on the same date or any date in the future)

The packaging is super chic (no wrapping required)

All you need is his/her email

For our 2nd #GiveAway,Chris Brown, owner of ArtofthePage.Etsy.com has offered a Fine Art Print from his collection of Fine Art credential prints such as a Caduceus with your RN. Winner gets to choose the print. Check out his site. There are some truly unique and beautiful renderings there!!

Sunday, May 8, 2016

May 8 is designated as Student Nurses Day. Happy Nurses Week to all who will soon join us in this fantastic profession!

Today I offer 3 Illumivein vein finder kits. Click on that link to read my review of this great product. These are great tools for new and established nurses and can be great teaching tool for students as well as established nurses.

Remember the Rules to enter the random drawing for all of the Nurses Week GiveAways are:

You MUST do 1 of the following. You can enter EACH day to improve your chances to win.

COMMENT on the daily blog post. You have to have a Google account to comment, but it's free.

ORFollowKathy Quan RN BSN on TWITTER & then Retweet tweets about the GiveAways.

On May 15, I will accumulate all of the names of the participants from
the blog comments, Facebook posts and Twitter retweets, and randomly
draw names from those who have done 1 or more of the tasks listed above.
Each task earns one entry.

Nurses perform one of the most valued and important jobs on Earth. With Student Nurses Day fast approaching, it’s time to honor those who plan to dedicate their life to the nursing profession.

Thanks to highly trained nurses everywhere, we have access to quality medical care performed by individuals who actually care about us.

3 Ways for New Nurses to Drop College Debt Fast

Still, we all know that nursing school isn’t cheap. With college tuition to pay and books to buy, even student nurses who work full-time or part-time usually need to borrow money for school. And once they graduate, the monthly payments can be difficult to manage.

Fortunately, student nurses have a few unique options at their disposal. In fact, it’s possible to have all of your student loan forgiven in a few short years if you meet certain criteria and agree to work in specific, high-need nursing careers.

Want to drop your college debt fast? Consider these three options:

1. NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program: With this program, nurses who work at least 32 hours per week in certain high-need facilities can have 60 percent of their student loan forgiven after just two years. When you add an additional year of commitment, however, another 25 percent of loans can be forgiven. Read here for the guidelines and application details.

2. Federal Perkins Loan Cancellation and Discharge: Did you take out Federal Perkins Loans as part of your financial aid package? If so, you could have them wiped out if you meet certain requirements.

In order to qualify, you must register for the program and work full-time. After that, your loans will be discharged over a period of five years. To apply to have your Federal Perkins Loans discharged, ask your school or loan servicer about next steps.

3. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF): Public Service Loan Forgiveness, often referred to as PSLF, is a government program that was created to incentivize people to work in public service careers.

Since many nurses work in public nursing facilities and hospitals, this program is an obvious fit for nurses struggling under the weight of student loan debt.

To qualify, you need to work full-time (at least 30 hours per week) in a qualified position and make on-time payments on your loans for 120 consecutive payments (10 years). After that, all Direct Loans will be wiped off the face of the Earth.

The Bottom Line

In addition to these options, plenty of states offer programs that help nurses get out of debt fast as well. Check out Student Loan Hero’s complete guide to student loan forgiveness for nurses for details on each state’s unique program requirements.

Nurses are valued members of the community who work in rewarding and necessary careers. However, it’s much easier for them to enjoy the fruits of their labor once they student loan debt is gone – and gone for good.

Friday, May 6, 2016

Happy #NursesDay! May 6 is designated as Nurses Day in the U.S. to celebrate the nursing profession and to raise awareness of the important role nurses play in society around the world. Nurses Week runs through May 12 each year which is the birthday of Florence Nightingale ( May 12, 1820).

One of components of a Nurses Day celebration is reciting or reading for The Nightingale Pledge which is also known as the Nurse's Oath:

I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.

If you’ve every felt powerless to effect real change in the profession you love, you’re going to want to checkout this book by Nurse-Attorney, Lorie Brown –“From Frustrated to Fulfilled: The Empowered Nurses’ System”.

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Nurses Week 2016 begins tomorrow, Friday May 6 and runs through Thurs. May 12 which is Florence Nightingale's birthday. The American Nurses Association theme for Nurses Week this year is Culture of Safety; It Starts With You.

Fastaff Travel Nursing is running a contest and giving away two $500 Southwest Airlines gift cards for nominating "someone who is a part of your nurse family and describe how he or she enhances your nurse experience." See #fastaffnursefamily give-away.

Lippincott Solutions is granting access during Nurses Week to some of it's best evidence-based content written for nurses by nurses. Selections are from Lippincott Procedures, Lippincott Advisor and Lippincott Development Content.

Once again this year TheNursingSiteBlog.com has some great Give-Aways to help celebrate Nurses. Items will be highlighted EACH day May 6 to May 12.

Here are the Rules to earn your chance to win one of these great items:

You MUST do 1 of the following. You can enter EACH day to improve your chances to win.

COMMENT on the daily blog post. You have to have a Google account to comment, but it's free.

ORFollowKathy Quan RN BSN on TWITTER & then Retweet tweets about the GiveAways.

On May 15, I will accumulate all of the names of the participants from the blog comments, Facebook posts and Twitter retweets, and randomly draw names from those who have done 1 or more of the tasks listed above. Each task earns one entry.

Winners will be notified through Google+, Facebook or Twitter. Please check your accounts. I will also list the winners in a blog post here on May 20. So please check back then to be sure you don't miss notification.

Some of the great #GiveAways we have this year include gift cards from several Scrubs retailers, Illumivein vein finder kits, Sugarwish Candy, Compression Socks, Art Prints and several books. Be sure to check in each day May 6-12 for your chance to enter and win one of these great #NursesWeekGiveAways.

I am honored to be chosen along with so many fabulous blogs. Please be sure to check out the list and all of theses great blogs! And be sure to have a look around the website as well.They have a lot of very helpful information for nurses and student nurses.

Thanks so much for this recognition of my efforts to serve the nursing community!

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